|
Lasting
impressions
Local
pro offers tips brides can use when hiring a photographer
By
Lee Cabot Walker
for The Brooklyn
Papers
Considering all the hard work that gets poured into making
a bride’s special day just perfect, one hopes that the
photographs that will document the event forever are just
what she has in mind. From the photography style to the number
of prints and albums, from the photographer’s price to
pocket-draining hidden fees, there are many variables to monitor
to ensure that this keepsake will be worth keeping.
Too many decisions, perhaps. That’s why The Brooklyn
Bride talked to Scott Whittle, a Park Slope-based photographer
who has specialized in wedding photography for 12 years. Whittle
has a master’s of fine arts in photography from Manhattan’s
School of Visual Arts and, having documented weddings throughout
the tri-state area and beyond, has experience shooting weddings
that vary greatly in location, size and style.
Whittle’s unique photography, which he describes as a
“candid, personal style,” is distinguished by his
fine arts background and by the eight or nine different cameras
he’ll use for a single wedding album.
“When people got tired of studio photography, they turned
to 35-millimeter [cameras] for a candid approach,” Whittle
said. “But even 35-millimeter, when used exclusively,
can begin to look a little flat.” Whittle uses several
cameras including a Holga (which distorts the image for a
vignette effect, like a pinhole camera), Polaroid, panoramic
as well as a 35-millimeter.
“The bride needs to be comfortable with getting what
she wants and not be convinced that she should choose the
fine arts look just because it’s the trend these days,”
Whittle advised.
Because a bride shouldn’t hire a photographer unless
she has a clear vision, in advance, of what the final product
— and price tag — will be, The Brooklyn Bride assembled,
with Whittle’s advice, a top 10 list of questions a bride
can ask herself — and her photographer — before
choosing a lensman for her wedding day:
10. There are hundreds of photographers in Brooklyn, and
they all claim to be the best. How do I choose the one for
me?
If you don’t have a wedding planner referring you to
a photographer, start with Google.
“Look at the photographer’s Web site first. Look
at pictures, not just the photographer’s pick of his
very best random shots, but look at — at least —
two complete weddings — 25 photos per wedding —
to really get a sense of what the look is and what the whole
day looks like,” said Whittle. “Make sure the photographer
has a style that fits what you want.”
9. How do I know I’ve found a photographer I can trust?
“In addition to looking at a photographer’s portfolio,
get references and talk to previous clients about the photographer’s
work,” said Whittle. “Make sure the style is consistent,
that he or she delivers reliable final products, that there
were no unfulfilled promises.”
8. Too pushy? A pushover? Grating voice? Am I crazy not
to hire this photographer because of his personality?
“Photographers have the most access and are with the
bride the most on the wedding day,” Whittle said. “The
bride will be spending a lot of time with the photographer
on a very big day, so she’d better LIKE him or her.”
7. Too hyper? Too laid back? What about working style?
Like everything, this is a personal choice for each bride,
but the way a photographer works on the wedding day is important
and can affect the ultimate result.
“Is the photographer a big presence at the event or is
he low-key?” Whittle asked. “How does he treat the
family? Is he in their faces the whole time, or is he unobtrusive?
“Also, tell the photographer and assistants how to dress
for your wedding. Do you want him to wear a tux or would you
mind jeans and a sports jacket?”
6. I’m worried about my location options. How do I
choose a good site for the group shots?
“A photographer’s job is to do the best with what
he or she has,” Whittle said. “Your photographer
should be able to adapt to any environment. In an ideal world,
I’d shoot everything during the day, in natural light
either through big windows or outside, but I don’t know
a lot of brides that make changes to the wedding for the photographer.
It’s our job as professionals to make it work.”
But the bride can inform her photographer beforehand about
his or her working conditions on the big day.
5. I want to remember everyone who was there. Should I
provide a shot list and, if so, how specific should the list
be?
“The only thing I ask for is a short list of group shots,”
Whittle said. “If you have someone who’s absolutely
essential — you know: ‘Uncle Bob with his dog’
— tell me. But generally I’m looking for the best
shots on that day, and I find it very distracting to get a
detailed shot list because then I’m just focused on checking
them off, and I’m missing all the good candid shots.
If you’re hiring someone with less experience, though,
the detailed checklist might not be a bad idea.”
4. The photographer at my brother’s wedding started
packing up before the cake was cut! What exact commitments
can I expect to get for my money?
This will vary from photographer to photographer, but there
are specific questions you can ask.
“When finding out what the photographer offers, make
sure you’re getting enough hours to cover the entire
day,” Whittle said. “How many hours do you get before
overtime? If, for some reason, you run over that limit, how
much does overtime cost? Do you have to pay for travel time?”
3. Are there add-ons I should know about?
If the photographer brings an assistant, paying that person
might represent an added fee you’ll want to know about
beforehand. Whittle, for example, brings a second photographer
for weddings with a guest list over 200, but he offers flat
rates for all of his services.
2. What about the photo collection itself?
This is where you’ll find the most hidden costs, so it’s
best to ask a lot of questions.
“Does the photographer make your prints for you or not?”
Whittle asked. “Maybe it’s a good idea, [because]
they know the lab and the process, but the bride needs to
be informed: how much do the prints cost, and how many do
you get? Are you obligated to buy one or more albums? How
much do they cost?”
Another element that’s easy to forget about is the negatives.
“Does the photographer give you the negatives, or do
you have to buy them from him? Negatives can be very expensive,”
warned Whittle.
Then again, if you’re not buying the negatives, then
you have to buy all the prints and enlargements from the photographer,
which can get expensive, too.
You want to know, from the start, how much money you’ll
need to budget to receive your album, as well as any albums
or prints for parents or other important members of the wedding
party.
1. It makes ME ill to entertain this thought, but what
if the photographer gets sick?
Make sure the photographer has a back-up photographer ready.
“Most photographers have back-ups lined up,” said
Whittle. “I have a back-up ready whether there’s
a day’s advance notice or a couple of hours.”
For more information
about Scott Whittle Photography, call (917) 771-3285, e-mail
scottwhittle@scottwhittle.com or visit his Web site at www.scottwhittle.com.
Other Web sites with photographer’s listings are www.theknot.com
and www.weddingchannel.com.
November
19, 2005 edition |. Read
more about Brooklyn Weddings
Back
to Top .|.
Return Home
|
